Rotary steam-engine.



No. 666,98I. Patented lan. 29, |901.

l SHAFER ROTARY STEAM ENGINE. (Applcation med July 5, 1900.)

lZZSheets-Shet l,

{No.ModeI.)

G ttoznmp Nonms PETERS co4. Fujian-urn No. -e66,98|. Patented 1an. 29, 190|.

LsHAFEn.

ROTARY srl-:Am ENGINE.

[Application filed. July 5, 1900.) un, Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 2.

IRA SHAFER, OF GRANT, IOWA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `flatent No. 666,981 dated January 29, 1901.

l Application faea July t, 1900.

To @ZZ whom, it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, IRA SHAFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grant, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary steam-engines; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine which may be readily reversed, which utilizes the expansive force as well as the impact of the steam, and which is simple in construction, effective in operation, and embodies a minimum number of parts.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational View looking toward one side of the engine. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking toward the vopposite side. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4c 4L of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of the piston. Fig. 7 is an inner elevational view of one of the cylinder-heads, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the piston-valves.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference-letters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A represents the engine-cylinder, comprising the base B, a central rim C, two internal heads D and D', applied to the opposite sides of said rim and forming therewith the piston-chamber, and two outer plates or heads E and E', closing the steam-passages in said internal heads, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The lower ends of these parts are elongated and form the base B, on which the cylinder rests.

F is the steam chest or space, located at the top of the cylinder and to which the steamsupply pipe F is connected and provided with a valve of any approved type to control the passage of steam to the cylinder.

Serial No. 22,555. (No model.)

The piston G comprises a wheel or disk and is mounted in the cylinder upon adrive-shaft G', extending through the heads D D and E E. This piston is provided in each of its sides with a series of three or more tangential valve-cham bers g, arranged equidistant from each other and concentric with the shaft. ,In these chambers are pivoted to move at right angles to the plane of rotation of the piston a series of valves g', one in each chamber, each valve being of approximately L form, having a body portion g2, pivotally mounted in the valve-chamber, and a lateral arm or abutment g4, movable toward and from the chamber in an arcuate path at right angles to the axis of the piston. A spring g3 has one end xed in the wall of the valve-chamber and its opposite end connected to the valve and serves to project the valve or force it out from said chamber. The two series of valves on opposite sides of the piston face in reverse directions, and the faces of the arms or abutments g4 are beveled to ride easily on the cylinder-heads and provide a balanced valve under perfect control ofl its springhinge.

The cylinder-heads D and D' are provided with segmental slots Hand I-I,which are counterpartsv in form and construction, but are reversed in arrangement, being located on opposite sides of the vertical centers of said heads. The upper ends of these slots, which form passages for the circulation of the steam through the cylinder, are in communication with the steam-chest F, while the lower ends thereof are in communication with exhaustports I, located in the heads D D and E E'. The inner faces of the heads D D are beveled or inclined at the upper and lower ends of the slots, as shown at j j', the beveled surfaces j allowing the valves to gradually open as they enter the slots H H', while the beveled surfaces j' effect the closing of the valves as they leave the slots. Spring-pressed packing-strips K are arranged between the rim of the piston and rim of the cylinder and between the sides of the piston and heads D D and form steam-tight closures to prevent the steam from passing through the cylinder otherwise than through the steam-passages H H. The valves g' are so arranged that at .least one valve at a time occupies each passage II I-I, so that a continuous motion of the l ton to rotate in either direction. If it be depiston is insured and loss of live steam prevented. The upper and lower ends of each of the passages I-I H' are in communication through the medium of suction or relief passages Z, which are adapted to allow the steam to follow the series of valves on either side when that side is working backward, and thus prevent suction and back pressure.

The reversing mechanism is arranged in duplicate, one set on each side of the cylinder, and each set consists of a vertically-reciprocating valve-rod m, connected at its upper end by a link or crank-arm o with a rod or shaft m, extending through the steam-chest, to which rod is also connected a re verse-lever n, provided with a pawl p to engage a segment-rack p', mounted on the steam-chest. At its lower end the valve-rod is operatively connected with two valves g and q, which respectively control the exhaust-port I and relief or suction port or passage Z. The valve q is pivoted to move in the arc of a circle upon the outer side of the cylinder, so as to cover and uncover the exhaust-port I, while the valve q is an ordinary rotary plug-valve mounted in the side of the cylinder, so as to extend across and open and close the reliefpassage Z. These valves are arranged and mounted to operate alternately, so that when the valve q' covers and closes the exhaustport I the valve q will he turned to the proper position to open the relief-port Z, and vice versa. The two links or crank-arms o are so mounted on the rod or shaft m that the valve-rods m will be moved in reverse directions when the lever n is operated, so that when the plug-valve q of one set is turned to close its relief-port Z the corresponding valve q of the other set will be turned to open the other relief-passage controlled thereby, while the valves q' will be swung in reverse direction to cover and uncover their exhaust-ports I in like manner. By this means the valves may be simultaneously operated to open the exhaust-port and close the relief-port on the working side of the engine and to, on the contrary, open the relief-port and close the exhaust-port on the opposite or idle side of the engine.

It will be observed that the reliefvalve q is an ordinary rotary valve mounted in the head D and plate E and crossing the lower portion of the passage Z, whereas the valve q swings in the arc of acircle toward and from the port I to cover and uncover the same. As the valve q is moved toward the port I to close it the valve q is turned to bring the port or opening therein in line with the passage Zto open the same, and, on the other hand, when the valve q is moved away to uncover the port I the valve g' is turned in the reverse direction to close the port Z.

In the practical operation of the engine steam may be admitted to either side of the piston to workfreely, and thus cause the pissired, for instance, to cause the steam to act on the piston-valves coacting with the steampassage I-I on one side of the cylinder to operate the piston in one direction, the valve mechanism on that side is moved to open the exhaust-port and close the relief-port, while the valve mechanism on the opposite side is moved to cause the valve q to close the exhaust-port I at the lower end of the steampassage II and the valve q to open the reliefpassage Z. The throttle-valve is then opened and steam admitted into the cylinder, and as the exhaust-port of the passage H' is closed and the exhaust-port of the passage H is open the steam will take the latter course-the course of free discharge and of least resistance-and will circulate through the passage H, acting on the piston valves cooperating therewith and rotating the piston. The valves on each side are three in number and arranged equidistantly, so that at least one valve always occupies the passage II or H', and accordingly a smooth and continuous rotation of the piston is effected, and both the impact and the expansive force of the steam are utilized. As each Valve g' in the rotation of the piston approaches the inlet end of the passage H the arm or abutment g4 thereof rides upon the beveled surface j and the spring ga forces the valve open, so that it closes the passage IAI and receives the full impact and expansive force of the steam. When the valve reaches the outlet end of the said passage I-I, it is forced closed by the beveled facej, and the steam following behind the valve discharges through the exhaustport I at the same time that the next succeeding valve enters the steam-passage. Steam is simultaneously admitted to both sides of the piston to maintain a parity of pressure on each side; but the steam operates on the valves on that side of the piston having the exhaust-port open and providing for the free discharge of the steam. The purpose of the relief or suction port Z is to allow the steam to follow the valves on the side working backward or which is not in use, thereby preventing suction and back pressure. The operation of reversing the engine to bring the side containing the steam-passage II into active operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

It will be seen that the invention provides an engine of the rotary type which is readily reversible, which obviates side and back pressure and utilizes the impact and expansive force of the steam, and which is simple in construction and embodies comparatively few parts. The construction and arrangement of the piston valves or abutments also provide for a perfect sensitive balancing of the valves and the easy and effective operation thereof.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within IOO IIO

the scope of the invention Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

l. In a reversible rotary steam-engine the combination of a cylinder provided with reverse counterpart steam-passages in communication at their induction ends with a source of steam-supply and at their eduction ends with exhaust-ports, relief ports or passages connecting the said induction and eduction ends of each passage, a piston carrying two sets of reverse valves or abutments coperating with said steam -passages, and valve mechanism coperating with each. set of relief and exhaust ports and adapted to alternately open and close the same, substantially as set forth.

2. In a reversible rotary steam-engine, the combination of a cylinder provided With reverse counterpart steam-passages in communication at their induction ends with a source of steam-supply and at their eduction ends with exhaust-ports, relief ports or passages connecting the said induction and eduction ends of each passage, a piston comprising a Wheel or disk provided in its opposite sides With valve-chambers, valves of L form in said chambers and facing in reverse directions,- and springs adapted to project the valves, said valves being movable in arcs at right angles to the plane of rotation of the piston, and valve mechanism coperating With each of the relief and exhaust ports and adapted to alternately open and close the same, substan# tially as set forth.

3. In a reversible rotary steam-engine, the combination of a cylinder provided with reverse counterpart steam-passages in communication at their induction ends with a source of steam-supply and at their eduction ends With exhaust-ports, -a piston carrying tWo sets of reverse valves or abutments cooperating with said steam-passages, relief ports or passages connecting the said induction and eduction ends of each passage, and valve mechanism for controlling each set of ports, the same comprising a reciprocating valve-rod, valves operated thereby to alternately open and close the ports, and an operating-lever connected to said rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tvvoV subscribing witnesses.

IRA SHAFER.

Witnesses:

L. E. MULLEN, JOHN C. LACY.' 

